How Far Can Your USD10 Take Your Around The World? | Hong Kong Edition

May 26, 2017

How far can your USD10 take you? In this series of blog posts, I’ve challenged some of the travel bloggers based in different corners of the globe to tell me what’s the best way to maximize USD10 as a tourist from where they currently are. Today, I’m featuring Hong Kong submitted by Flo of Yoga, Wine, Travel.

USD10 = HKD78 based on current exchange rate

Hong Kong is not exactly known for being budget friendly (it is one of the most expensive cities around the world to live in), but it is possible to spend a fantastic day in the city without spending a fortune. If you only have 1 day to spend in Hong Kong, here’s how to make the most of your day and spend under 10 bucks!

Start your day off with a delicious meal at a local “cha chaan teng” or tea restaurant – order the toast with ham and eggs as well as a hot cup of yuenyeung (a mix of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea). This will set you back about HK$25, or $3.5.

Take bus 15 up to Victoria Peak for panoramic views across Hong Kong. Skip the paid viewing tower and head to the Lion’s Pavilion for free views, or walk along the Lugard Road trail (which will take you about an hour) to get away from the crowds. The bus ride will set you back about HK$10 or $1.5 depending on where you hop on.

Take public transportation back down towards Central and take the Mid-Levels Escalator (the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world!) over to Soho to explore the city on foot – stumble upon cool street art, check out Man Mo Temple and Pottinger Street.

Don’t miss exploring PMQ – PMQ stands for “Police Married Quarters” as it used to house married junior police officers. It sat empty for nearly 15 years until it was revitalized as a heritage site and was opened to the public; today, it is a local design hub and is home to about 100 different design galleries, shops, exhibits and boutiques. Once you’ve had your fill of exploring Soho, hunt down egg waffles or egg tarts for a snack (HK$15-20 or $2/2.5).

At sunset, hop on the iconic Star Ferry and cruise over to Kowloon side to see the buildings light up behind Victoria Harbour. There is a daily light show at 8 PM where coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights decorate the skyline – the views are free and the ferry ride will set you back less than 50 cents!

If you have more than 1 day to spend in Hong Kong, there are a multitude of wonderful beaches you can visit and hikes that you can go on to see what Hong Kong has to offer, beyond the concrete jungle. Did you know that although Hong Kong is considered a metropolis, out of the total 1,108 square kilometres of land, about three-quarters is countryside! Hong Kong Island is also only 1 of more than 230 islands that make up Hong Kong, so the next time you visit make sure you venture out to Stanley, Mong Kok, Sai Kung, Cheung Chau and Tai O just to name a few.

All photos are submitted by Flo. If you’re a blogger and would like to submit a guest post in this series, drop me an email at pinayflyinghigh(@)gmail(.)com

2 Comments

Hong Kong we spent two days Friday-Saturday on our way home from Rome.
Marvelled at it. loved everything and cannot see what any problem would be. Streets were packed Friday night but we made it to an Indian restaurant and enjoyed a feast for $35Aus. Saturday morning the ferry ride was about $10A. A Bus ride around the ‘burbs and visit to the Mountain coming down the funicular cant remember wasn’t expensive tho. Saturday night real Chinese meal in a Chinese restaurant cost about $10A. To a younger brigade I can imagine it would be a great holiday on the shanks.